Circular-knitting machine.



F. WILGOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 30, 1908 1,100,805 Patented June 23, 1914.

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macaw VMMM F. W ILCOMB.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.30, 1908.

Patented June 23, 1914.

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imirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK WILCOMB, 0F NORRISTQWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGLN l fi-ENTS, T0 HEMPHILL MANUFACTURING 00., OF PAWT'UCKET, RHODE-ISLAIND.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING mncnrnn Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented June 23 application filed November 19, 1806, Serial N 0. 344,075. Divided and this application filed December 30, 1908. l Serial No. 469,956.

To all whom it may) concern:

1t lrnown that .I, FRANK WILCOMB,

citizen of the United States residing at .hlorristown, Pennsylvania, have invented ertain new and useful Improvements in 'cular-Knittmg Machines, of wh ch the :hollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to circular knittlng machines and concerns partidularlythe C0111- bmation of a needle cage surrounding the cylinder and a'sectional cam ring whereby the needles may be readily removed and replaced. I

concerns also special features of conetruction of the cam ring and also such an ngement of the rotary and stationary rs 'ofthe machine as will prevent the sticking of the rotary parts due to expansion under the heat generated in running the ma.- chine at thehigh speed necessary.

lli'y invention concerns also other features as will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is vertical sectional View through the head of'a circular knitting machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail vertical seo tional viewof the cam ring; Fig. 3 is a plan view of .the parts shown in Fig. 2; and liig. l isa detail vertical sectional view of a part of the-needle cylinder and the cage.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the independently operating spring beard needles ;v 2 the needle cylinder, and 3 the cam ring carrying the needle cams 4; 5.,

The sliding sinker are shown at 6, and

the web holders'at- 7 operated respectively by cams 8 and 9.

The needles 1 are attached to jacks 1*,the inner edges of which slide inthe grooves 10 of the cylinderwhile their outer edges slide in grooves of a cylinder cage 11 hereinafter referred to. The needle jacks are operated vertically by cams carried by the cam ring which is formed of the gear section 12 and the cam ring proper; 3 attached to the gear section by the screws 13.

The needle cams comprise, asshown in Fig. 2, the upthrow cam 14 and the draw-' down cam 15. The latter is, adjustable, be ing connected to a. post 16 having a slotted head. the slot of which is engaged by a flangecn the adjusting screw 17'. A jam screw'18 presses and holds the post down in the position to which it is adjusted. The cam ring is formed in sections, one-section 19 which carries the draw-d0wn cam being pivoted at 20, so that it may be tilted back in order that the needle'and jacks may be in spected atany time, by the operator. This tilting, cam section is held in its closed. posi tion by the set screws 21, supported by the fixed sections and entering the tiltin ction.

Une section of the cam ring or cylinder is completely removable in order to peimit the needles and jacks to be removed. This secticn is shown in Fig. 3 at 22, it-being held in place by a b11tton23, which, on being' given a quarter turn, will be in line with a slot 24 formed in the base of the said cam ring or cylinder so that the-section of the same may be removed. This cam ring holds the needle jacks. in place-and shields them from the accumulation of lint and dust. It will be noticed that the lines of division between the sections of the cam ring are not radial but: tangential to the circle of needles, and jacks, and therefore the segments form a substantially continuous bearing surface Without a break sufficiently large for 89 the needle jack to enter and be caught thereby. This ring may be formed in one piece and slotted up afterward, and even though crevices are left these will not receive the needle stems which must move ra dially in order to remove them. This tangcntial slotting also allows the tilting cam section to be pivotally' mounted with parallel lines at the pivotal point.

Another feature of my invention relates 90 to the construction and arrangement of parts enabling me to replace any needle in the machine without the necessity of removing the cylinder from the machine as is done with most hosiery machines and without pulling the needle upwardly as is done in most rib machines. In removing the needles in the machine built according to this invention it is not necessary to disturb any of the workingparts and with this result in view I employ the needle cage 11 above mentioned. This cage is made up of tempered metal strips held in a ring 25 at the lower end of the cage and within the same and by a ring 26 at the upper end of the cage and 1 inclosing the same. The cage may be supported by its ring 25 which is connected to the cylinder. The strips are spaced ap the needle stem comes in contact with l. A .i cylinder: o afi'ord n e guiding Walls for the needle jacks to rail; between. I

1g so that during ""f l; nung the needle operet eine upward movement rely bat/$891 1 the ring an lrhecylinder; this being at the time the yarn is being fed to the needle and the said needle jnclris held accurately in its path by the encircling sectional can]. ring in its lowest-position as well; as in its highest position. When, now, a needle or needle jack isto be have arranged replaced, the section of the cam ring is erly time these parts and the sinker'driving 29 may be adjusted also. it will be understood that While I show a machine in which the needle cylinder is stationary the invention may be applied to the opposite type of machine. It will be understood also that all the features above de-.

scribed are embodied in the one machine.

h grooves in the It will be observed that the needle shanks are guided by both the cylinder grooves and the cage grooves, and they are thus held aemu'ately in position and it will be observed further that the needle jacks engage both-the cylinder groove and the cage groove and are therefore guided and spaced accurately thereby.

This invention is a division of that disclosed. in an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed November 19, 1900, Serial Number 344,075.

1. claim as my invention 1. In :1 cam ring for knitting machines, the combinationiof a drawing-down cam, and a tilting section oarrying said cam, said section turning on horizontal pivots, sub stantially as described.

2. In combination in'mcircular knitting machine, needles, a cylinder, :1 cylinder cage, 21 ring at the upper end of the said cage, a cam ring surrounding the lower part of the said 'c'age and needle jacks guided by the said cage and held in place against lateral displaceineht iv ien in their uppermost position by the ring and when in their lowermost position by the cam ring, substantially as described.

.In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK W ILOOMB.

Q Witnesses:

LFON KoriL, J 05. E. KiNonEoAN. 

